Much of Asia in July is dealing with rain and high humidity, but there are still plenty of sunny destinations to visit. While the big stops in East Asia are sweltering in sticky humidity, you can head to the southern destinations of Southeast Asia for perfect weather in the islands.

• See more about events and weather in Asia month by month.

Asian Festivals and Events in July

Big Asian festivals are fun, but they also cause an increase in airfare and accommodation prices.

Plan accordingly and arrive early for a better experience.

• The Dalai Lama’s Birthday: July 6 marks the 14th Dalai Lama’s birthday. Tenzin Gyatso was born in 1935. See: who is the Dalai Lama?

• Georgetown Heritage Day: (July 8) Both Malacca and Georgetown in Penang, Malaysia, became UNESCO World Heritage Sites on July 8, 2008. The occasion is celebrated with a big festival throughout Penang and Malacca.

• Thailand’s Full Moon Party: (see dates) The Full Moon Party is a monthly event held in Haad Rin on the island of Koh Phangan. The party’s popularity can cause transportation between Bangkok and the islands in the Gulf of Thailand to book up completely. Read more about the Full Moon Party in Thailand.

More in Asia:

• India in July
• China in July
• Hong Kong in July

Where to Go for Asia in July

Many of the major stops in Asia will be dealing with excessive heat, humidity, and possibly rain in July. Busy cities such as Beijing and Hong Kong will be sweltering with urban humidity trapped around the city.

The rain in Tokyo begins to subside a little around the second half of July. India will be dealing with monsoon season throughout most of the country. Read about the monsoon season in India.

Places with the Best Weather

• Sumatra, Indonesia
• Malaysian Borneo
• Indonesia
• Malaysia
• Central Vietnam (Hoi An and Nha Trang)

Places with the Worst Weather

• China (heat and rain)
• Japan (heat and rain)
• Hong Kong (rain and humidity)
• India (rain)
• Cambodia (rain)
• Laos (rain)
• Myanmar/Burma (rain)
• Hanoi, Vietnam (rain)

Traveling During the Monsoon Season

Travel is still possible, and enjoyable, during the monsoon season in Asia. You’ll often get to enjoy many sunny days along with discounted prices and less crowds. Heavy showers in the afternoons are somewhat predictable, although tropical depressions can move into an area and spread steady rain for a week or longer.

• See more about the weather in Southeast Asia.
• See more about what to expect when traveling during the monsoon season.

Asia’s Islands in July

Why stick around the humid cities when gorgeous islands are waiting with perfect weather? July is peak season for Bali and the Gili Islands in Indonesia as well as the islands on the east coast of Malaysia. The Perhentian Islands and Tioman Island in Malaysia are excellent destinations in July. Finding accommodation on Perhentian Kecil in July can be tricky as the crowds gather for peak season -- arrive early!

If traveling to Thailand, opt for the islands in the Gulf of Thailand -- they’ll be receiving far less rain in July. Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao are good options to escape the rain hitting the rest of Thailand. Islands on the Andaman (west) side of Thailand will be dealing with with rain, however, the weather improves slightly on Koh Lanta during July and August.

Singapore in July

The weather in Singapore stays fairly consistent throughout the year with both sunny and rainy days. Showers can pop up at any time. Rainfall increases slightly in August then drops back to average in September. November, December, and January are typically the wettest months in Singapore.

• See the best time of year to visit Singapore.